Boon Tong Kee, a four-decade-old Singaporean institution hailed as the “city-state’s best Hainanese chicken,” has landed in Causeway Bay, bringing its Michelin-recognised poached chicken and signature sides to Hong Kong diners for the first time.
The renowned restaurant chain quietly opened its doors at 18 Tang Lung Street in early April 2025, marking its debut outside Singapore. Founded in 1979 as a humble stall in Chinatown, Boon Tong Kee opened its first proper restaurant along Balestier Road in 1983. Today, it operates eight outlets across the island and has earned a loyal following—and a nod from the Michelin inspectors—for its impeccably tender white chicken.
A Taste of Singapore’s Culinary Heritage
For many Singaporeans, Boon Tong Kee is synonymous with comfort food. The restaurant’s signature Hainanese chicken rice starts with poached chicken that is silky and moist, served at room temperature to preserve its texture. Diners can customise each bite with three house-made dipping sauces: a fiery chilli-ginger blend, a sweet dark soy sauce, and a fragrant ginger-garlic paste that enhances the natural sweetness of the meat.
The chicken is accompanied by fragrant chicken oil rice, cooked with pandan leaves, ginger, and garlic using Thai jasmine grains for a fluffy, aromatic base. The kitchen team has replicated the Singapore recipe exactly, ensuring consistency across borders.
Beyond the Bird: Must-Try Sides
While the chicken rice is the star, the Causeway Bay menu also features other Singaporean classics. The crispy tofu is a standout: each piece is battered and fried to a paper-thin crunch, revealing a molten, silky centre. The prawn toast—a Cantonese-inspired take on the British tea sandwich—uses a minced shrimp paste spread on bread and deep-fried until golden, delivering a satisfying snap.
Other dishes include sweet-and-sour pork, balanced between tangy and savoury, and sambal kangkung, a spicy water spinach stir-fry that can be swapped for garlic stir-fried version upon request.
Offers and Practical Details
To celebrate the opening, Boon Tong Kee is running a limited-time promotion: takeaway lunch sets are available for one person at a special price until further notice. The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 am to 10 pm.
For those dining in, value sets are also available. The two-person dinner set (HK$298) includes two portions of chicken oil rice, a choice of sambal kangkong or crispy tofu, and sweet-and-sour pork.
Address: Shop 4, G/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay
What This Means for Hong Kong’s Food Scene
Causeway Bay is already a magnet for overseas food chains—from Taiwanese hotpot to Japanese soufflé pancakes—but the arrival of a Singaporean heritage brand adds depth to the district’s culinary diversity. Boon Tong Kee joins a wave of “cross-strait” eateries that have brought regional specialities to Hong Kong, offering locals and tourists alike a chance to taste dishes that have defined Singapore’s hawker culture for generations.
With its affordable pricing, consistent quality, and a menu that balances familiarity with novelty, Boon Tong Kee is poised to become a fixture in Hong Kong’s competitive dining landscape. Whether you are a Hainanese chicken purist or a first-timer curious about Singapore’s unofficial national dish, this Causeway Bay outpost is worth a visit.